Beauchamp plans Courthouse space

Anderson County Director of Buildings and Grants Alan Beauchamp has a new proposal for empty space on the first floor of the Courthouse in Clinton.

John Huotari | john.huotari@oakridger.com

Anderson County Director of Buildings and Grants Alan Beauchamp has a new proposal for empty space on the first floor of the Courthouse in Clinton.

Beauchamp told The Oak Ridger last week that he plans to propose the Anderson County Commission handle in a two-phase approach the numerous requests for space formerly occupied by Juvenile Court in the Courthouse.

Juvenile Court moved its offices earlier this year from the Courthouse's first floor to the adjacent Robert L. Jolley County Administation Building, leaving vacant a number of offices, and a courtroom.

"We can handle these moves now," Beauchamp said.

Beauchamp is proposing the Anderson County Credit Union receive one extra room behind its current space near a narrow hallway that leads to the old Juvenile Court space.

Then, the county's Human Resources Department would take six offices on the right side of the hallway, allowing HR Director Cathy Best to keep confidential information separate from work space and training areas, he said.

After the HR Department moves to its new space as proposed by Beauchamp, Veterans Service Officer Leon Jaquet could then move his office from one room off a hallway just inside the Courthouse's eastern front door, to three rooms currently occupied by the HR department.

That would allow the county's zoning office to have room for its files and, thus more room in its current space near the back of the Courthouse.

Beauchamp's proposal could double or triple the square footage that the offices currently use, he said.

"We could meet the needs of four offices, within just a few weeks," Beauchamp explained.

What to do with space formerly occupied by the Juvenile Courtroom and judge's chambers -- a total of six offices -- on the left side of the hallway, could be finalized later, Beauchamp added.

Commissioner Robert McKamey has proposed moving the Anderson County Commission's meeting room from the Courthouse's third floor to the old Juvenile Courtroom and judge's chambers on the first floor. McKamey has also proposed giving space in that area to the school system, as well as the HR Department and the veterans service officer.

At the same time, the Anderson County Election Commission is considering using part of the old Juvenile Court space for its new offices, or moving out of the Courthouse if leased space can be obtained.

Beauchamp, however, said he thinks McKamey's proposal would give the offices less space than they need.

"I respectively disagree with Commissioner McKamey's plan," Beauchamp said. "His plan narrows down a lot of the expansion needs of people already in the Courthouse."

The buildings and grants director said he has met with a structural engineer to discuss a wall that currently divides space between the old Juvenile Court main office and the judge's chambers.

The structural engineer, Beauchamp said, plans to attend a meeting of the county's Long-Range Planning Subcommittee to discuss concerns about the location of the wall. That subcommittee was meeting Tuesday night at the Courthouse.

Leean Tupper can be contacted at (865) 220-5501.

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